Understanding Ottawa's Bus Transfer Validity And Duration

In Ottawa, a bus transfer allows you to use multiple routes or vehicles during your trip. The length of time that a bus transfer is valid for depends on how you pay for your trip. If you pay with a Presto card, your transfer is valid for two hours. If you pay with cash, you will be issued a paper transfer, which is valid for 90 minutes or 105 minutes, except for late at night and early in the morning when transfers can be valid for up to six hours.

Transfers are valid from the start of your trip

In Ottawa, transfers are valid for 90 or 105 minutes from the time they are issued, except during the late-night and early morning periods when transfers can be valid for up to six hours. This extended transfer validity period is intended to give customers more time to complete their trips when there are fewer routes running and less frequent services.

Transfers allow you to use multiple routes or vehicles during your trip. If you pay with cash on the bus, you will receive a paper transfer. Wait for your transfer to print before heading to your seat, as this is your proof of payment. If you pay using a Presto card, your transfer will be added to your card when you tap it. You can tap your card on any card reader to see how long you have left to transfer.

If you are transferring from OC Transpo to STO, or between Para Transpo and buses or the O-Train, you can use a Presto card or pay by cash. Your OC Transpo pass or transfer is also valid on the STO network, and STO passes and transfers are accepted on all OC Transpo routes.

If you are travelling during the day, your fare will be capped at the price of a Day Pass, and if you are travelling over a calendar month, your fare will be capped at the price of a monthly pass.

Paper transfers are issued when you pay with cash on the bus

If you pay with cash on the bus, you will be issued a paper transfer. This also applies if you pay with a single-ride voucher. As you board the bus, drop the exact change or the voucher into the fare box and wait for your transfer to print. You will need to present this slip as proof of payment, so place it somewhere safe.

The transfer slip will also allow you to transfer from one bus to another or to the O-Train, within a certain time frame. This is usually 90 minutes, but it can be longer, up to 105 minutes, or even six hours late at night or early in the morning. The transfer is valid from the time you start your trip until it expires.

If you pay with cash, you will need to have the exact change as the fare boxes cannot make change. You can also pay with a Presto card, a credit card, or a mobile wallet, but these are not accepted as transfers between Para Transpo and buses or the O-Train.

Transfers allow for unlimited travel until they expire

In Ottawa, a transfer ticket allows you to use multiple routes or vehicles during your trip. This means that you can continue your journey on another bus or train. The transfer is valid from the time you start your trip or tap onto a fare reader, until it expires.

Transfers allow for unlimited travel on any route until they expire. This means that you can make as many trips as you need within the transfer window without being charged an additional fare. The transfer window is the same for all per-ride payments.

The length of the transfer window depends on the time of day and the payment method. If you pay with cash on the bus, you will be issued a paper transfer, which is valid for 90 minutes from the time it is issued. If you pay with a Presto card, your transfer is valid for two hours from the time of your first tap. Late at night and early in the morning, transfers can be valid for up to six hours.

It is important to note that transfers are not valid for travel between Para Transpo and buses or the O-Train, or on STO. For these transfers, it is recommended to use a Presto card or pay by cash. Your transfer is your proof of purchase, so make sure to keep it safe.

Presto cards are valid for two hours from the first tap

Presto cards are a convenient way to pay for your trip on OC Transpo in Ottawa. They are valid for two hours from the first tap, allowing you to transfer between vehicles or subway stations within that time frame without being charged an additional fare. This means that once you tap your Presto card on a card reader when entering a subway station or boarding a vehicle, you have two hours to make transfers as needed. This transfer allowance is also available for Presto Ticket users.

The two-hour transfer window provides riders with flexibility and convenience, enabling them to enter and exit the TTC multiple times within the given time period. This can be especially useful if you need to make multiple connections during your trip or if you need to change directions. Each time you board a vehicle or enter a station, simply tap your Presto card again to validate your transfer.

It is important to note that the two-hour transfer window is separate from the minimum transfer window offered by OC Transpo. The 90-minute minimum transfer window applies to all per-ride payments, including Presto cards, and allows for unlimited travel on any route until the transfer expires. This means that regardless of the payment method, you will have at least 90 minutes to make your journey and any necessary transfers.

The Presto card is widely accepted in Ottawa, and you can use the same card in other cities as well. You can purchase and load funds onto your Presto card online, through a mobile app, at customer service centres, or at participating retailers. This makes it easy and convenient to manage your transit fares and plan your trips in advance.

In addition to the standard Presto card, there are also age-based discounts available, such as the Youth and Senior Presto cards. These discounted cards can be purchased at OC Transpo Customer Service Centres or at select retailers. It's important to note that proof of eligibility may be required when using these discounted cards.

Monthly fares are capped at the price of an adult monthly pass

In Ottawa, a transfer ticket allows you to use multiple routes or vehicles during your trip. This includes transfers from bus to train. You can obtain a transfer ticket by paying for your trip on the bus with cash or a single-ride voucher. You will be issued a paper transfer ticket, which serves as proof of purchase.

If you have a Presto card, you can tap your card on a card reader when you enter a subway station or board a vehicle. Your fare will be deducted, and a transfer will be applied to your card. This transfer is valid for two hours.

Now, onto monthly fares. OC Transpo offers various fare options, including the ability to pay per ride, per day, or per month. The monthly fare cap is an example of fare capping, which is a feature of public transport fare collection systems. Fare capping limits the cost of fares that passengers pay by crediting individual trip fares towards an unlimited pass.

In Ottawa, when you pay with your credit card or mobile wallet on any OC Transpo bus or the O-Train, your monthly maximum fare will automatically be capped at the price of an Adult monthly pass ($128.75). This means that no matter how many trips you take over the course of a month, you will never pay more than $128.75 in fares for that month. This is especially beneficial for those who take multiple trips per day or commute long distances, as it eliminates the need to purchase an unlimited pass in advance.

Frequently asked questions